On an Oklahoma City Thunder roster featuring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, last season’s runner-up for Most Valuable Player, and Chet Holmgren, who finished second in Rookie of the Year voting, Jalen Williams can sometimes be overlooked.
However, heading into Friday’s matchup with the visiting Houston Rockets, Williams is finding his groove after an inconsistent start. Over the last two games, he is shooting nearly 57 percent from the field and averaging 26 points and seven rebounds. His latest performance included a 29-point, 10-rebound, nine-assist effort in Wednesday’s loss at Denver.
In the season’s first six games, Williams was shooting below 43 percent from the field. Part of his early shooting struggles can be attributed to an increase in 3-point attempts. After averaging just 3.1 3-point attempts per game over his first two seasons, Williams focused on incorporating outside shooting into his game during the offseason.
The Thunder are coming off a narrow 124-122 loss at Denver on Wednesday, following a strong start where they won their first seven games by at least 12 points. Friday’s game marks the beginning of a season-long, six-game homestand for Oklahoma City.
The Rockets have been on a roll, winning back-to-back games and four of their last five, including a 127-100 home win over San Antonio on Wednesday. Friday’s game will serve as an early test for the Rockets, who are looking to improve after finishing .500 last season following three consecutive seasons well below .500. Houston is focusing on patience and improvement as they aim for their first postseason berth since the 2019-20 season.
This game will feature two of the league’s top defenses. The Thunder lead the league in defensive rating — points allowed per 100 possessions — with a wide margin. As of Thursday’s games, Oklahoma City’s defensive rating is 96.5, more than seven points better than the second-place Golden State. The Rockets are fourth with a defensive rating of 108.0.
Friday’s meeting is the first of four matchups this season after the teams split their four contests last season.
